Saxophone



Sept. 25, 1928.

Eid... 'H25 1,685,129 A. J. HILTON SAXOPHONE Filed Dec. 7, 1925 2sheets-sheer, v1

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A. J. HILTON SAXOPHONE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1925 Ppa'dscontrolled thereby, ofwhicli, however.,v

Patented Sept. 25,k 1928.

PATENT-OFFICE.

. AvEnY J. HILTON, OF GLoUoEs'rism;MASSACHUSETTS.

y SAXOPHONE.

Application vledy December This invention relates to improvements insaxophones.

.It is an object of the invention to facilitate in a saxophone theplaying of tones of a high- "i er register Without requiring theactuation of keys located at a point on the saxophone which the playercan reach with difiiculty only,or Without requiring the actuationof keyswhich,'while located in readily accessible position, cannot easily beopera-ted simultaneouslyr With otherkeys necessary forthe production ofcertain tones. y

,Nk Another Object of the invention 1s to pro vide in a saxophone aysingle key bymeans of which several, valves of higherregister tones maybeopferated vand to arrange the key for actuating these higher/tonelregister 'valves at a'point ony the saxophone adjacent'those f keyswhich are to be operated when tonesof J0 a loiver register are to beplayed.4

An additional object of the invention is to provide in a saxophone meansfor rendering resonant certain ltones which cease to be resyonantvvhen,vcertain keys on the saxophonearc matically upon operation of that' keywhich also controls the valvesfor producing the n tones of higherregister. p, y, LAdditional objects will become apparent from a perusalof the followingv specifica# tion, inwhich reference is madetotheaccompanying drawing. v

In the drawing: i j Figure lisa sidelelevation yof a portionof thebodyofthe saxophone f Figure 2is a side elevation seen from an'-othcr'side otftlie 'same 'body' portion; p

Figure?)` is a fragmentary side elevation of a smaller portion' ofthesaxophone, again seen from. a diilerentfside,to illustrate certainrauxiliary valves;y i

Figure 4 1s a sect; Figure 1; y l y A T,kigures 5y and 6 are sectionalviewson lines 5*--5 and `696 respectively of Figure` 2 Figure y7 is asectional view on line 7- 7 of 1 Figure 1. n i l A y K n The body 1 ofthe instrument maybe of, any ydesired [or `approved vform and" 1s'kshown equipped with ,the standard J keys andrk valve y' forthe presentAinyention",certain keys and Ylv onlyy are ,Of .Importance,' In ,thepresopcrated, yand to effect this resonance auto ionajlvieyv on line 4-4of 7, 1925.5jser1a1 No. 73,707.

ent specification reference is made to these valves and keys exclusivelyWhile the other equipment is not referred to.

Three keys, usually provided for operating the valves controllingproduction of the notes G, A and B respectively, are indicated at 2, 3

`and et and are connected by arms 5, 6 and 7 respectively with thepertainingspindles to close the valves uponV fingering of the keys as inother saxophones. The three fingersof the left hand of the playerIdepress these keys While another `finger opens at the same time the Cvalve 8, as for instance by manipulation of key 9, if the note G justabove the stai is .to bey produced. y

In order lto produce notes of a higher register, these keys, or some ofthem, have to be operatedtogether with additional keys, controllingvalve pads at a portion higher up on the instrument. Additional Ivalvepads'r for the production of these tones of higher registenarc indicatedat 10 for the tone (l-lat, atv 11 for D-lat, at 12 for E, and at 13 lforF. By referencevto Figure 2 itwill be seenthat the valve pads 10, 11, 12and 13 are associated with arms 14,' 15,"16 and 17 respectively,

which are fixed on spindles'or shaftsfextending'to different keys nearthe lower part of /the instrument. But these keys cannot readily bemanipulated if at the same time other keysare to be fingered.

rAccording to the present invention the knecessity of operating underthese conditions the individual keys for thefvalves 10 to 13 inclusiveis dispensed with and theopening movement of these valves conjointly isconn trolledr b v amaster key. The master ke)7 18 is locatednear themore accessible part of the instrument and is ixedly connected with n aspindle 20 supported in thebearing 19 near rthe lower part oftheinstrument and'in the bearing 21 near the upper part of the same.

lateral. arm 22 fixed to the spindle 2O extends to the valve 11, whichis the D-flat valve, andrests thereon to keep this valve closed, thevalvehaving a tendency to open kwhen the arm 22 is raised. Y It will beseen,-tlierefore, that 'by yoperation oit the master key 18 a rockingmovement is imparted. to thefspindle 20 and this rockingk movementl isutilized by means fof the lateral arm 22 to permit the valve '11, forthe ltone Dflat to open. This valve ll is equipped with .im erm`.extending iff to the valve 12 for the tone E or the higher register,and similarly the valve 12 has an arm 24 extending to the valve 13, thearms 23 and being` secured respectively to the pertaining valves tocause closure ot' the valve on which the arm loosely rests,` when thenext preceding lower valve is closed. These valves l'or D-llat, E and F,therefore, are constructed to open automatically upon actuation or themaster key 1S, and remain normally closed unless actuated by theirpertaining keys, or by the master key.

1t is apparent from the ahove that upon manipulation ot' the master key18 the valves controlling tones or a higher register' are openedsimultaneously. i In order to produce certain tones, however, it is notonlyne cessary to open these valves 11, 12, 13 in conjunction, but italso essential thatl some oi' the valves used in theproduction of tonesor lovver registc should be manipulated. p

s manipulation ot' the valves 'for 'the tones ot' lower register,however, is the standard manipulation, as it'or inst-ancethe depressionor the keys 2, 3 and 4 effecting the closure of the valves tor the tonesG, A and B respectively. New owing to the closure or the valves forthese tones or the loyver register the tones would cease to be resonant,and it therefore an aim ot' the invention to combine with the operationof the master key also the operation or seine additional valves, whichmay produce tones harmonically Iequivalent to those or the valves 2, 3,4 and taking the place ot' the valves tor the tones G, and B.

For this purpose the instrument is equipped vfith an additional set ofvalves 25, 26, 27 as shoivn in Figure 3 and secured by karms 28, 29 ant30 respectively to a common spindle31 `supported in the bearings 32 and33 on the body 1 or the saxophone. tis obvious, theretore, that upon theoperation of the spindle 31 in'its hearings these threeadditional valves25, 26 and 2T u'ill'be operated and Will compensate tor the fact thatthe tones G, A, B under control or the keys 2, 3 and4 have lost theirresonance. For the purpose ot manipulatingi` the spindle 31 an arm 37issecured to the same and projects With its `tree end underneath a pin34, Figures 2 aude, or a rocking; lever supported in a .hearing 36 whichis secured to the body 1 or the instrunient. This lever carries anotherpin 38 at the other end, and this pin 38 projects above the arm 22directly secured to the spindle 20 or the master key 18, vwhereby uponvactuation or' the master key the arm 22, swinging in anti-clockwisedirection, Figure 6, communi- Cates a'rocking;` movement to the lever 35in Vthe opposite direction, and thereby actuates the spindle 31 Ltowhich the three valves 25, 26 and 2T are secured. The arm 22 for thispurpose,isprovided With a small seat or indentation 39 in which the pin38 rests.

The operation or the master key 18 there- `lfore leads to simultaneousopening of the valves 11, 12 and 13 and to the opening of the valves25,26 and 27. The player ot the instrument. non can readily alter thecombination of the key 2, 3 and 4, on which three tingers oi the lefthand rest', to vary the high rei- 'er tones produced hy the opening orthe .its 11, 12 and 13.

1n order to produce the tones of a higher octave it is also necessary tomanipulate a high octave valve which is usually located close to themouthpiece of the instrument, and the inr-.nipulation ot this valve (notshown in the drawing) here, as in many other instruments, effected bymeans of a ring,r 40 spaced fromv and surrounding the instrument nearthe neck thereof and connected with a lever 4.1 1which has its pivots inthe bearing 42. Near the bearing 21 of the spindle 2O for the master keyan arm 43 projects substantially in forivard direction to engage atitst'ree end the tail portion ot' an angular lever 44 which is pivotedintern'iediate its ends through spindle 45 in bearings 46.V The free endot' the lever 44 engages the inner circumference of the ring 40, wherebyupon mai'iiuplat-ion of the master key 1S this ring' is moved laterallyVof its axis and a rocking movement is'irn'partedjto the lever 41 whichthen will open the octave valve (not shown) located close to themouthpiece ot' the instrument. v j

lVhile the manipulation ofany ot the keys 2, 3 or 4 vvill permit otravariation of the high register tones, the production of which is due tothe opening of the valves 11, 12 and 13, the production of the tone F inthe higher register requires that the C valve also should be opened, andas it would he very difficult for the player to manipulate at the sainetime the key which causes resonance or the C valve 8, the master key 18also actuates instrumentalities through vvhich this tone is renderedresonant. j

As the C valve S is to he opened conjointly with the master key alateral projection 47 extends from the valvelever 4S beneath an arm 49secured to thespindle 20. The lateral projection 47 terminates in a pin50 ollset from the arm and extends in direction or the lever 4S. and thearin 49. proj ectinglr from the spindle 20, overlies said pin 5()whereby `upon depression or tlieinaster key 1S the. valve S isrfauiiknilated in the saine manner Ain which .this valve would hemanipulated if its pertaining,` individual key 9 should be depressed.

yThe operation of the instrument for the production of higher registertones Will become apparent from the following:

The conjoint manipulation of. the individually operable valves ot theG,.A and B tones together produces the note G. just above the stati?.The manipulation of these valves together ivith the valves for the tonesD-tlat, E and F or the higher register and' conjoint.- ly With theoperation of the C valve will prolli'i `ducey the high D,provide`dtheoctave valve the manipulationy of ythe keys A and B withlout closurevof theGvalve. This tone A just yabove 'the stati' mayfreadily beconvertedvinto a still higher D-lat by depression of the keys 3 and 4for the tonesA and B, and at the saine time manipulating the master key,yvhereby the valve pads 9, l0 and` 11 are actuated.

n The manipulation ofthe B key ivitliout siiy Y l plurality ofvalveskfor higher register tones,

multaneous closure ofthe G and A valve will lproduce-,the still higherEdfA atjthe saine time y i the niasterkey is operatedl and the valvepads9, l0 and 11 are .thereby actuated, 'hence the high B is converted intoavery li`igliE,` l

Finally, .by depression of the master key and :raising the firstfingeron the left,l hand off the Br valve'y and higher register tone valves,the instrument will convert the high "f C-lat into the high F.

It is obvious from the above that the high tones can be produced as fastandas readily as vthe normal tones G, Av and B since the task of higherregister tone, an individually operable valve controllinga tone of aloyverregister, a unitary set of resonant valves adapted torender thelower tone resonant whenv said #tone ceases to be resonant upon closureof the sec-` ond named valve, and means for causing simultaneously theopening of the higher register tone valve and the `resonant tonevalves.

2. Inay saxophone, a plurality yof valves for tones of a higherregister, said valves being interconnected to eflectmovementof` all ofthe valves upon actuation of a certain valve of said plurality, a masterkey controlling `said plurality of valves and connected with saidcertanvalve only, a plurality of indi-` vidually operable valves for tones ofalower register, said tones ceasing to befresonant f upon closure of saidvalves,`and means eon-' .trolled by the master key rfor rendering thetones controlled by the second named valves resonant after the secondnamed'valves have been closedy In-a saxophone, `the combination of aplurality of'valves for higher register tones,

meansfor individually operating said valves, one of saidjvalves beingnormally `closed and others ofsaid valves beingnormally open, meansunder control of the master key for releasing tlie lirst 'named valvefrom its nor'- mally closed position, and means lcontrolled ,by saidvalve `:for releasing the other of the valves from their normally openposition to` shut' position. u n y f f 4. ln asaxophone, the combinationof a set ofrvalves for higher register tones,`oneof the valves beingnormally closed and others of said valves being normallyy open, a masterkey, an arm projectingffrom said master key over said normally yclosedvalve'to permit release 'of said vnormally closed valve trom closedposition upon operation lof said master Akey,fand an arm projecting fromsaid valve' over another valve of the plurality and adaptainaster key,afspindle to which saidmastei' key is secured, an arm projecting Yfromthe spindle over `one of said valves which.y is noif mally closed torelease the saine froinclosing position upon actuation ofthe master key,

another set of valves,` and means Controlled 'by said arm formanipulating the other set offvalves.

6. In a saxophone, the coinbiiiat-ioii of a plurality of valves of ahigher tone register,

an actuating element for an octave valve, a

master key, and separate means under control of the master key forpermitting simultaneously actuation of saidhigher register tone vvalvesand for operating the actuating elementof said octave valve.

7. In a saxophone, the combination of ar plurality of valves for higherregister tones, means for individually operating said valves,

a master key adapted to effect' actuation of all of said valves to openposition simultane-V ously, an octave valveactuating member, and

means under control yofthe master key for manipulating said octave valveactuating membersimultaneously with said first named means. Y

8. In a saxophone, the combination of D-flat, l] and F valves,individual operating means for the saine, a master key holding the`D-lat, E,fand F valves inactive V.While tonesA said valves active andfor simultaneouslyV opening the other set of valves.

9. In a saxophone. agC-valve, means for individually operating thesame., individually loperable G. Aand B valves, said last named valvesceasing to be resonant upon their clo-k 4 sure, a master key, and meansAunder control of the master keyfor rendering said tones refsonant andttor operating simultaneously the C-valve. v f

l0. In a saxophone, a plurality of individually operable valves forproducing tones valves rendering the noneresonant tones res0- nant aresecured, an arm projecting from said spindle, a lever controlling thearm, a. master key, a spindle on whichV said master key is mounted, andan arm on said last named spindle for controlling said lever. i

11. In a saxophone, the combination of a plurality of high register tonevalves, a master key, an elementunder control of' the master key fornormally maintaining said high register tone valves Closed,` al set ofindividually operable valves controlling tones which cease to beresonant upon the closure of said last named valves, a plurality ofauxiliary valves adapted to reestablish the resonance of said tones whenopened, and means under control of the elementcontrolling the higherregister tone valves for opening said auxiliary valves. t Y

l2. In a saxophone, a set or' valves for higher register tones, a masterkey, and means under control of the master key connected with one valveof said set only for keeping legaal 129 said valves normally closed andfor closing tones of a lower register, a plurality of auxiliary valvesfor tones of the saine register, said auxiliary valves being rigidlyinterconnected, and aeommon means for opening all of said auxiliaryvalves, said auxiliary valves being harmonieally the equivalent of saidindividually operable valves. y y

14, In a saxophone, the combination of a plurality of individuallyoperable valves, a plurality ofindividually operable valves Jfor tonesof a higher register andv normally closed, and means acting on one ofsaid valves only for releasing all of said last named valvessimultaneously from closed position.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto allixed my signature this 30 day ofNovember, 1925.

AVERY J,- HILTQN.

plurality ofI individually operable valves for

